Road trip review: BMW M550i Pure

Friday, 12 February 2021

• BMW M550I PURE

• Base price: $149,900

• Powertrain and economy: 4.4-litre turbo-petrol V8, 390kW/750Nm, 8-speed automatic, AWD, combined economy 10.7L/100km, CO2 246g/km (source: RightCar).

• Vital statistics: 4962mm long, 1868mm wide, 1467mm high, 2975mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 530 litres, 20 inch alloy wheels.

• We like: Great engine, great chassis, comfortable, total sleeper

• We don't like: Can feel like the two-tonne car it is, hard to justify a V8 these days

Most people would say their dream summer road trip vehicle is a convertible sports car or a funky retro van of some description. Mile munching capabilities are welcome but you really want something with a bit of heart and soul, right? Something you look back at when you park it at some far-flung beach or a pit-stop cafe in a small town?

A BMW 5 Series isn’t usually what you think of seeing in that scenario but the M550i Pure could be a bit of a sleeper in that regard, plus a few others. I had the keys to the M550i for two weeks over summer and decided to take it to the Hawkes Bay and back for a classic Kiwi roadie.

For a bit of background, the M550i gets all the 5 Series tweaks for 2021 but remains a step down from the full-fat M5, and the Pure variant is the “stripper” version of that. I use quote marks because it still gets quite a good amount of kit, like adaptive M suspension, laser headlights, four-zone climate control, M Sport brakes, a Harman Kardon sound system and BMWs full driving assistance package. It doesn’t get soft-close doors, a glass sunroof, BMW’s trick ‘display key’ that feels more like a smartphone than a key, or the uprated M suspension Professional.

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What both M550i variants do share, however, is a lovely 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8.

The engine is the same unit found in the M5 (and other BMW models), tuned here to produce 390kW and 750Nm, enough to sling the sedan to 100kmh in 3.8 seconds. It doesn’t exactly feel that fast though, which is actually kind of a good thing here. The M550i isn’t shouty like an AMG or even a full-bodied M car, it's only quietly aggressive. The shifts are smooth, not aggressive and the suspension remains supple, even in Sport Plus mode.

But make no mistake, this is a fast car. While the drive from Auckland to Hastings usually comprises mostly of motorway cruising, there are some exciting parts if you divert off the beaten path. Tahuna Road, which connects State Highway 1 to SH27, is a lovely ribbon of tarmac which the M550i inhaled with alacrity.

The steering is fantastically direct in Sport Plus mode too and the xDrive all-wheel drive system has a rear bias, which is always welcome in a car with sporty ambitions. There are moments at higher speeds where the two-tonne mass of the M550i is felt but they don’t come often thanks to quality rubber and a well-honed chassis. That M Sport Suspension is brilliant when pushed, particularly the active roll stabilisations.

Back on the main artery, hitting Eco Plus puts the V8 into a quiet rhythm, turning over just above idle. Interestingly, it doesn’t yet feature mild-hybrid electrification, which makes its fuel consumption quite remarkable indeed. I saw numbers below 9L/100km when we arrived in Hastings, though that was mostly highway cruising. Giving the car back after two weeks of driving had the real-world figure at just shy of 12L/100km.

That said, 2021 is not the year of the V8. It’s only going to get more and more difficult to justify buying a big engine like this, regardless of how good they are on fuel or thrilling they are to drive. If you were ever going to do it, and wanted it new, now’s the time. Or, just wait and buy the equivalent hybrid/electric car when they eventually launch. A good car is a good car, regardless of what powers it. Just, y’know, don’t be a snob about it.

This is also a good time to mention that, while a hefty V8 is obviously going to be a good time around the backroads, it’s also a fantastic tool to dispatch with one of the most annoying things you’ll see on the roads. Not slow trucks or caravans, I mean those drivers that drive at 80kmh until there’s a passing lane, then deciding to drive at 110kmh while you try and pass. I don’t know the thinking behind it, but it's exceedingly satisfying being able to dispatch them without much effort.

That also brings me onto, arguably, the main reason you should consider the M550i as your $150k buy, if you’re in such a niche. It’s a proper sleeper, not like some other cars on the market. The RS 6, for example, is neck-snappingly fast while retaining a degree of practicality with its wagon design but you know exactly what you're in for if you see one. Huge vents, a low ride, angry eyes, fat exhausts, the current RS 6 is clearly a supercar trying to be a wagon, as opposed to a wagon that happens to have supercar performance.

The M550i, meanwhile, just looks like a BMW sedan. Sure it’s a bit lower, has a little boot spoiler and larger wheels than the cooking variants but at first glance, it’s part of the crowd. Then you put your foot down and remember there’s a snarling V8 under the bonnet.

Add it all together, the brutal powertrain, the gorgeous chassis, the restrained sleeper styling, the ability to be sporty without sacrificing comfort, decent fuel consumption and the M550i is, I’d say, the perfect 5 Series. If only it was a little less harsh on the environment.